Music Festival – Huichica – Gundlach Bundschu Winery
The Huichica Music festival returns to to Gundlach Bundschu Winery this weekend, with three stages and plenty of new and emerging acts. The festival kicks off today, June 9 at 3 p.m. and continues on Saturday, June 10, at 11 a.m. “No bad attitudes allowed, this is Rhinefarm after all” is Jeff Bundschu’s mantra for the festival. Now in its seventh year, Bundschu has joined forces with Folk Yeah productions to up the level of access to talent along with other concert-type things.
What exactly is a “Huichica” anyways? Well, Huichica (pronounced “Wha Chee Ka) is actually the name given to the soil that is the ground where the winery is located, and has been since 1858. As with prior festivals, we never heard of any of these acts, and that’s exactly the way Bundschu wants it. “I’ve always liked to introduce people to new music, and the festival gives us that opportunity” said Bundschu.
This year local Marty O’Reilly will have a set as well as a number of acts we actually remember from previous years. Here are some of the ones that interest us.
Mattson 2. This jazz duo of identical twins has quite the musical education to back up their credentials, having Bachelor’s and Masters of Fine Arts degrees in music from University of California San Diego, and University of California Irvine respectively. The duo will be recreating John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” album from 1965. They will be on the Barn Stage today at 7:20 p.m.
Heron Oblivion. We caught this act last year and were really impressed with the psychedelic-stoner rock vibe the act laid down. Hailing from Oakland, the group first properly gigged in April of 2014 opening for War On Drugs, then inked a deal with Sub Pop Records to release their self-titled, independently produced album in early 2015. They take the Barn Stage tonight at 10:10 p.m.
Alina Hardin. Originally from Nevada City, Calif, Hardin and her band now hail from Portland, Ore. Raquel Nasser writes “Hardin carries with her a notebook of folk songs, penned and played with wisdom and grace beyond her 23 years that are wrought with images of the startling Northern California terrain, Alina’s music will place you on a dusty canyon road that seems to wind up and on into the sweet hereafter. Though, the first onslaught of songs did not come to her until she fled Nevada Union High for explorations in Paris…” Hardin takes the Giraffe Stage today at 4:30 p.m.
The Tyde. This act can trace it’s roots all the way back to the early ‘90s with a number of members form other indie rock acts, many on this weekends bill, but really got rolling in the early ‘00s with the release of three albums on Rough Trade records. The act has a vibe of ‘70s classic rock blended with styles of pop hits from the ‘60s. The Tyde takes the Amphitheater Stage Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
Marty O’Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra. O’Reilly hails from Sonoma, and someday you will be saying you knew him when. Since his teenage years, he has carried himself and his music as a seasoned veteran, with heartfelt soulful lyrics that are far beyond his years, even now. Full disclosure, we’ve known and jammed with O’Reilly since he was a teenager and seeing his successes in music is no surprise, but we’re happy none the less. Formed in Santa Cruz in 2012, the bands live performance is at the core of the project. The band enters a trance and the music is born again as something new every night. They go from raw gospel blues to cinematic epics, from heavy driving grooves to delicately arranged folk songs. The Old Soul Orchestra takes the Barn Stage on Saturday at 5:55 p.m.
Cosmic Twang. The duo of Scott Law and Ross James make up Cosmic Twang. The duo crossed paths at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, and have been blazing a trail through their own blend of psychedelic country rock n’ roll music ever since. You will hear the influences of Bill Monroe, Merle Haggard, the Grateful Dead, or the Velvet Underground running through their music. The act takes the Barn Stage on Saturday at 10:05 p.m.
Tickets for the festival can be purchased at the door and the event is all-ages. Food and beverages will be available for purchase and no outside alcohol is allowed at the venue, along with coolers, pets, chairs (blankets are OK), outside food, drinks or bad attitudes. For more info and to check out sound samples of the acts, point your browser to huichica.com.
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Tommy Thomsen’s Texas Dancehall Party
It’s time again for another Texas Dancehall Party thrown by Western Swing Hall of Famer Tommy Thomsen. Thomsen has just returned from a tour of the Southwest U.S. and played shows in Arizona, New Mexico and the town of Turkey, Texas, the home of the co-founder of the Texas Swing style of music, Bob Wills, with a population of 400. The last week of April, the population of the town swells to thousands and many Western Swing aficionados and performers travel to the “Mecca” of Western Swing, a club called “the Church of Western Swing.”
Thomsen’s party will be at the Reel Fish House and Grill on Saturday, June 10, kicking off at 8 p.m. Thomsen brings with him a bunch of his Western Swing all-star buddies to jam with him, including Bobby Blackon pedal steel guitar, Paul Shelaski on fiddle, Dave Shapiro on guitar, Chris Price on bass and Pete Lind on drums. Reservations are suggested as Thomsen’s shows typically sell out. You can get more info by calling the venue at 343-0044.
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Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, June 9: Peace of G. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: DayLater. 7:30 p.m.
B. R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Hwy. Glen Ellen, 800-330-4064
Sunday, June 11: JMB and Friends. 2 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, June 9: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 2000 Denmark St. Sonoma, 938-5277
Today, June 9: Huichica Music Festival. 3 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: Huichica Music Festival. 11 a.m.
Hood Mansion Lawn, 389 Casa Manana Rd. Santa Rosa, 833-6288
Tonight, June 9: Funky Fridays with Stax City. 7 p.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, June 9: David Hooper. 5 p.m. Vintage Grass. 8 p.m
Saturday, June 10: Witherward. 1 p.m. the Straw Wattles. 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 11: Garrin Benfield. 12:30 p.m.
Larson Park, 329 DeChene Avenue, Sonoma, 539-8092
Saturday, June 10: Springs Festival with 3 on a Match. 4 p.m
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, June 9: Closed
Saturday, June 10: Closed
Muscardini Cellars, 9380 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, 933-9305
Saturday, June 10: “Simmer Down Saturday” with the Jami Jamison Band. 6 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Tonight, June 9: Ryan Tatarian. 6:30 p.m. Reggae Night with Byron Borges. 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
The Reel Fish Shop and Grill, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Tonight, June 9: People of Earth. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: “Texas Dancehall Party” with Tommy Thomsen. 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 11: Tommy Odetto. 9 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards, 389 Fourth St. E. Sonoma, 933-3230
Tonight, June 9: T Luke and the Tight Suits. 6 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club, 574 First St. E., 938-8313
Saturday, June 10: Cynthia Tarr. 7:30 p.m.
Sonoma Plaza, 1 Broadway, Sonoma
Saturday, June 10: Bear Flag Celebration with Blue Rock Country Club. 1 p.m.
St. Francis Winery, 100 Pythian Road at Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa, 538-9463
Sunday, June 11: the Cork Pullers. 2 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, June 9: Brandon Eardley. 6:30 p.m. the Sidemen with Peter Welker. 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: the Marks Brothers. 5 p.m. Magic. 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 11: Brandon Eardley. 5 p.m. Acoustic Blues Jam. 8:30 p.m.
The Starling Bar, 19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 996-3055
Saturday, June 10: Huichica after-party with DJ Derek James. 11 p.m.
Sunday, June 11: Hannah Mayree Duo. 7:30 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com